SLS Now Archive
Cops For Cancer – Tour de Rock
I would like to extend thanks towards all those who contributed to the success of our fundraising for Cops for Cancer. Over the last couple weeks, we received overwhelming support and witnessed the outstanding efforts made by the Shawnigan Community. With help from all the members of the School, we managed to reach our goals and in many cases surpassed them. In total, compiling funds from several different events, the amount we raised for this cause exceeded fourteen thousand dollars.
– Savannah H., Deputy Head of School
Photos by Stephen Lane and Yearbook
The Lonsdale Statue - A tribute to the Founder
As part of developing plans for celebrating Shawnigan's centennial, a group of older alumni has commissioned a famous sculptor to create a scale model statue of the Founder, C. W. Lonsdale.
The renowned artist, Mardie Rees is, currently working on a two foot tall statue of Mr. Lonsdale, accompanied by one of his pet Alsatians, "Max". The one third life-size statue will be presented at this upcoming October 23rd Founder's Day.
The idea is to gauge if there is enough enthusiasm for the project to commission a full, larger than life size bronze statue of the Founder that would be unveiled during the 2016 celebration of the School's 100th anniversary.
Ms. Rees has visited the school to absorb the spirit of the Founder and to do extensive photographic research to make sure she accurately captures the clothing, style, stance and aura of the man responsible for the magnificent 300 acre Shawnigan campus. No doubt Lonsdale would be amazed that his little school, started with six students, is now a flourishing, world class school of 450 students from around the world. He might also be more than pleased that his vision and memory are to be enshrined in a statue in his honour. A fitting tribute for the man responsible for this fine school!
For more information about Mardie Rees and her work you can visit her studio website at:
http://mardierees.com/
For information specifically about the creative process related to the Lonsdale statue, go to: http://mardierees.com/journal/?tag=bronze-sculpture
Ms. Rees will be on hand at the October 23rd Founder's Day to discuss her work on the tribute to Lonsdale and to answer questions.
– Steve Housser ’67
Sunny Skies and Calm Seas
With our September already breaking records for most precipitation and fewest hours of sunshine, this group of Outdoor Pursuits students is counting its lucky stars to have enjoyed not only a dry patch but also a day of glorious sunshine. The overnight sea kayaking trip in the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve was a first-ever experience for several students: first time in a sea kayak, first time on the ocean, first time camping overnight in a tent. The newbies were well cared for by the veterans, though, and there was a notable increase in competence and confidence by the end of the trip.
– Peter Yates, Peggy Ransome and Vikki Agate, trip leaders
Photos by Peter Yates
Senior Girls Volleyball
Congratulations to the Senior Girls volleyball team who won GOLD at their opening tournament in Campbell River. Friday night's pool play action definitely showed that the Shawnigan squad was the team to beat. Aggressive serving and solid court leadership by Elyse M. and Chelsea G. were key elements that kept the pressure on their opponents. Emily A's versatility and energy helped the team work on some early season adjustments and they took both matches in straight sets defeating Lake Cowichan 25-14 and 25-15 and followed up with a 25-14, 25-21 victory over Kwalikum.
Saturday morning started with a win over the host school, Campbell River Christian and secured first place in the pool. This was an exceptional defensive game for Forest, who played in the Libero position. Some exciting net pay and a few solo blocks by Tanis A. and Shaughnelene S. were highlights in the quarter-final win against Carihi B team (25-18, 25-9). Consistent serving by Abby B., and some powerful attacks by Solene M., led to another convincing win in the semi-finals over Lake Cowichan 25-15, 25-13. This matched the team up against Carihi A in the Gold Medal Game. With continued dynamic play, the girls controlled the court and went on to win the gold in straight sets (25-20, 25-15). Maddie B., Sienna R., Julia S., Anna C., and Rosa V. played supportive roles both on and off the court and Julie Ann's organization and enthusiasm were very encouraging.
Team All-Stars were awarded to Elyse M. and Emily A. Tanis A. received the gold medal match MVP and Chelsea G. was named as the tournament MVP.
On Tuesday, the team plays Chemainus in league play and then moves on to the Vancouver Island University tournament on Friday, October 1.
— Cathy Pasquale, Coach
Whole School Relay
We have started a new tradition at Shawnigan. Due to greatly increased traffic around the lake, this year's second Inter-House event, the "Whole School Relay," was held on campus. Mr. Robertson was very happy with this new event, finding it "...a more concentrated, more intense and more fun event, not to mention, infinitely safer, than the old one!"
Here are the results:
Boys
1. Copeman's (37min24sec.)
2. Duxbury
3. Lake's
4. Ripley's
5. Lonsdale's
Girls
1. Strathcona (46min11sec.)
2. Grove's
3. Kaye's
4. Renfrew
Photos by Stephen Lane
Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup
With a combined effort from Shawnigan Lake School's Environment Club and Service Club, the first few hundred meters of Shawnigan Creek, as it outflows from the lake, got its annual "once over." The School has been taking part in the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup for a number of years now and this stretch of the creek continues to benefit. A quick comparison of some of the most abundant forms of litter collected from last year and this year seems to indicate that our behaviors contributing to littering on and around Shawnigan Lake have changed little:
144 plastic bags, 184 food packages, 73 plastic and paper cups, 120 recyclable beverage containers, 390 tobacco packaging, and 637 cigarette butts.
The most interesting find of the day was an unlabeled 1 L plastic bottle full of ammonia! Ouch! While last year one lucky member of the E-Club found a folded $100 bill in the bushes between the creek and the road, this year a $20 bill was found. Apparently it still pays to be GREEN!
Once again, Rev. Holland and I would like to congratulate all those who participated. Well done!
– Scott Noble
Photos by Stephen Lane
Black and Gold
Shawnigan Field Hockey Makes History
This weekend the Senior Field Hockey Team wrote a piece of Shawnigan Lake School history by winning the School’s first ever ISA Championship. The 34 year-old Wiggins trophy has never found a home in the Shawnigan halls until this past weekend. The SLS team justly earned the Championship title when after two days of intense, round robin play, they landed at the top of the rankings as the only undefeated team of the tournament. Particularly impressive were the team’s back-to-back performances Saturday morning with a 1-1 tie against Brentwood College, followed immediately by a 3-0 win over Saint Michael’s University. A major factor of the team’s success lay in the players’ developing confidence to switch between strategic systems and apply tactical decisions to suit the tempo of the game. The players are very proud to bring the ISA honour home to Shawnigan.
– Kelly Koepp, Coach
Grade Nine Boys' Rugby
All 39 grade 9 boys took the bus and ferry on the trek to St. George's, Vancouver, this weekend. A good time was had by all.
The B XV comprised of mainly newcomers to the sport fought valiantly against overwhelming odds and actually succeeded in scoring on two occasions.
The A team lost 34 to 17 against a strong and more experienced St. George's squad. However, as five of the team had never played before, we were very encouraged by this performance and, with hard work and more organizational detail, we are hopeful that we may be able to get closer to our great rivals when they visit us in the middle of October.
– Graham Linn, Coach
Opening Night
The Stag Cafe's annual opening night started with a frenzy of activity. Every year a new group of Entrepreneurship 12 students take over the reins of operating and managing the Stag Cafe. The go-to destination on Tuesday and Friday evenings is the Ritz where students can socialize and enjoy good food provided by the Stag Cafe. A large portion of the profits go to the local Foodbank and other worthy charities. The Entrepreneurship 12 classes wish to thank Shawnigan students and their parents for continued support, and undertake to provide excellent service for the year ahead.
Georg Stroebel, Entrepreneurship 12
Shawnigan Advisors
Every student at Shawnigan has an academic advisor. Advisors keep track of student successes in all areas of the School and coach their advisees to make good choices and to beware of pitfalls. Regular meetings are a way of keeping aware of concerns and to "check in." Of course, an advisor at Shawnigan is always available and invites students to drop by or touch base at any time. On Wednesday, advisors met with their charges as a group. This is a great opportunity to build new friendships that cross grade and House boundaries.
Photos by Noralie Hooper
Kyle Hamilton – Head of Rowing
Olympic gold medalist Kyle Hamilton has taken over as Head of Rowing at Shawnigan Lake School from Danielle Beare.
Hamilton won gold during the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing with the Canadian men’s eights and was also part of world championship crews in 2002, 2003 and 2007.... Click here to read full article.
University Visits
University visits to Shawnigan have begun in earnest. In the next two months, SLS will play host to 25 visiting university reps who come to the school to provide current information to students about programs and admission. This is in addition to the 33 institutions represented in the upcoming Canadian University Event on October 5th. Grade 11 and 12 students are encouraged to attend as many sessions as possible in order to gather information and expand their knowledge of the types of choices available to them. Large and small, local and international, the options are wide-ranging and exciting to explore.
– Beth Hall, Director of University Guidance
Shawnigan Lake Arts & Multicultural Celebration
The community of Shawnigan Lake celebrated an Arts and Multicultural celebration on Saturday afternoon. It was well-attended and enjoyed by many in our community. Our school was finely represented by a number of our students, staff and parents. Particularly delicious morsels of cultural food was handed out and enjoyed by everyone. Thank you to all who helped out.
– Jenny Ferris
Friendship Cup Tournament
The Shawnigan Senior Field Hockey team got off to a solid start at the annual Friendship Cup hosted at the School this weekend. The squad dominated their pool on Saturday, winning all three games by strong margins before succumbing to Lambrick in the fourth pool game Sunday morning. The strong performance qualified the team for the bronze medal game against a top ranked AAA Oak Bay Squad. The game was fast-paced and a test of endurance for the Shawnigan athletes but they showed their grit, keeping the score to 0-0 for most of the first half and even creating the first dangerous scoring opportunity of the game which was narrowly missed by Rachel on the far post. At the final whistle, Oak Bay had a 2-0 victory but Shawnigan could be pleased with their overall 4th place finish and positive start to the season. Top Shawnigan goal scorer for the weekend was, Julianne, who racked up a total of 7 goals, 3 of which she actually scored against her own team while helping out the short QMS bench in the true spirit of a friendship tournament.
– Kelly Koepp, Coach
Grade 8 Rugby
The grade 8 rugby boys got off to a fine start to their season yesterday. They played mini games against SMUS (Victoria) and local rivals, George Bonner School, in wet conditions on the International field. With only a few practices under their belts they boys played with lots of enthusiasm, ran hard and tackled well.
In our first game against a very polished SMUS team we lost 3 tries to 1. George scoring our only try in the corner late in the second half. In our second game against a much bigger George Bonner team we won 4 tries to 1. Three tries by George and one by Brandon--A promising start!
– Rhodri Samuel, Coach
Maximize Your Shawnigan Experience Online
Shawnigan works hard to provide parents with opportunities to stay connected to their children and the School, even though many are hundreds (if not thousands) of kilometres away from the campus. By now you undoubtedly are aware of the Shawnigan Parent News, published weekly by the School's Communications Department, but did you know there are other ways to keep up with your child's daily routine in "real time?"
Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, the School's chapel services are streamed live at http://www.livestream.com/shawnigan/. Tuesday and Thursday's services begin at 8:00 am, while Saturday services usually begin at 11:15. Chapel presents a great opportunity for family members to witness first-hand one of the unique traditions of a Shawnigan education.
You can also keep up with the School by subscribing to our pages on Facebook and Twitter. These social media outlets are updated regularly with articles, photos and other Shawnigan tidbits, and are valuable tools for getting the most out of your experience with the School. Users are welcome to post opinions, ask questions, and take part in online discussions. You can find the Shawnigan Facebook Page at http://www.facebook.com/shawnigan/ or follow us @shawnigan.
- Ryan Panton '97
Shawnigan Junior Squash Open
The inaugural Shawnigan Junior Open was held 17-19th September in the new Sportsplex. This Squash BC sanctioned tournament attracted many accomplished players from BC, Alberta, Washington and California. The draws were very competitive and made for some closely contested and exciting matches.
A highlight was the Girls' Gold event where Ashley T of Shawnigan (Gr. 12 from France) played very well to win the title in convincing fashion, beating the BC no. 1 and Canada no. 3 junior player. She was awarded the Monk Office Cup. Tyler O of Victoria, No. 1 Under 17 in Canada, was the worthy recipient of the Gudewill Cup in the Boys' Gold event. Tommy H (SLS) won the Boys' Bronze category. Kelsey M took first place in the Girls' Bronze, with Claire W as runner-up. Duncan M was the winner of the Boys' Silver division. Dorian L-W, Justin M and Chris M, all of SLS, had strong performances in the Boys' Gold event.
– Lynne Grass, Coach
Final Standings
Fine Art Selection
Despite the rain, spirits were high on Monday afternoon as students toured the Hobbies Building to find out about this year's fine art offerings. Choosing the activity that is the right fit is key because students will select one fine art for the entire year. Fine art gets underway on Wednesday afternoon in band, musical (Oliver!), dance, drama (Picasso at the Lapin Agile), fashion design, library, textiles, yearbook, environment club, studio art, sculpture, woodwork, illustration, pottery, model UN, computer animation, photography, homework helpers, service club, computer graphics and fly tying.
Inter-House Volleyball
On Sunday afternoon the entire school gathered in the gym for Inter-House Volleyball, the first event in the year’s hotly contested House competition. The enthusiasm and spirit shown by the Houses for both their own teams and their brother/sister Houses was deafening and was matched only by the level of play on the court. By the end of the afternoon, the girls’ competition ended with an undefeated Strathcona in the lead followed by Groves’, Renfrew and then Kaye’s. For the boys, Lake’s won the most games, followed by Ripley’s, Copeman’s, Lonsdale’s and Duxbury. Thanks to Mrs. Pasquale and Mr. Olson for organizing the event and refereeing all the games. Special recognition should go to the many parents of the Shawnigan Parents Association who volunteered to keep the students fed and hydrated—thank you!
Photos by Wendy Woollven and Stephen Lane
Girls' Night Out
On Friday night, Kaye's House invited Renfrew North and Strathcona over for a Barbecue. Mrs. Dalrymple and her fabulous Head of House spent two hours cooking over a hot BBQ. Kaye's House also provided the fixings for sundaes complete with chocolate sauce and cookie crumbles. Renfrew North organised a movie in the Shaw Centre for an after-dinner treat.
Great Eight Expedition
To kick off the school year in true, BC style, thirty-four Great 8 students ventured north up the Trans Canada Highway to stunning Horne Lake. Led by Mrs. Jennifer Hutchins and Mr. Peter Yates, along with the assistance of Ms Tzircalle, Mr. van Duyn, and 6 amazing Prefects (Sylvia H., Monty T., Saeed N., Shannon K., Michael B., and Francesca W.), students had the opportunity to bond with each other, learn about Shawnigan life, and to experience firsthand a rugged, yet beautiful, outdoor setting. Upon arrival, we learned about important camp rules, such as ensuring that all food is securely put away to prevent bears, raccoons, and other hungry critters from the campsite. Hansen C. was especially concerned about the bears! Luckily, we did not have any visitors, although Ms Tzircalle did have a close encounter with a family of deer. Our first major activity after lunch was a thirty-minute hike, after which we split into groups to explore the depths of three amazing caves. Our guides were very knowledgeable and the highlight for many was experiencing the total darkness of lights out as well as the glowing phosphorous. Evening games were led by the Prefects, and the campfire entertainment, which included Michael Barry's funny songs, was much loved by all. The rain held off until the afternoon of day two, during which we canoed Horne Lake and repelled down a large rock face. Canoe Soccer was a fantastic experience, although Saeed and Shannon may remember it differently as they flipped. Banana boats were a sweet treat, as was Regina R.’s birthday celebration. All students are to be commended for their willingness to try new things and their ability to embrace everyone in the Great 8 class. The trip provided an important opportunity to forge relationships and prepared our new students to navigate through their first term at Shawnigan. Here's to a great year!
– Mrs. Hutchins
Photos by Casey C. and Mr. Yates
Shawnigan Field Hockey on New Tracks
The Shawnigan Senior Field Hockey Team got back into action with a preseason training camp. The group of 20 girls and 4 new international coaches had three intense days of fitness, skills and fun activities to get to know each other and get back into the swing on the field.
The camp focused on three new central building blocks of fitness, technical skills and discipline, all adding up to the cornerstone of the new program: TEAMWORK. While fitness and technique were quickly addressed on the playing field and will continue to develop over the coming weeks, discipline was indirectly woven into the program through the building of new team expectations, such as water checks, regeneration, and self-responsibility. Overall the Shawnigan players demonstrated their core strength as a team when successfully executing challenging group activities off the field. The new coaches were impressed with the girls’ cohesive problem-solving abilities and creative group thinking when performing physical and mental group tests.
The squad is looking forward to the up-coming weeks of vigorous training ahead of them and the coaches are confident that the girls are up to the challenge of the short eight-week season. Already in the three days of camp the athletes showed a tremendous improvement, which was very encouraging and motivating to everyone involved. Congratulations to everyone for “surviving” the weekend!
– Kelly Koepp, Coach
Fun and Games
We spent the evening on Tuesday getting to know our new students and helping them get to know one another. The catering crew put on a great barbecue and then students were welcomed officially by Mr. Robertson (Headmaster), and Lukas B. (Head of School), in the Chapel. Students were then sent off to "Fun and Games" in the gym, where they got into some pretty wacky new games and learned a little about what we mean when we say, "House Spirit!"
Welcoming New Students and their Families
Despite pouring rain, the School was filled with eager excitement on Tuesday when we welcomed 160 new students and their parents. Families were kept busy picking out uniforms, meeting with teachers, exploring the campus and getting settled into their houses. Smiles abounded amidst all the activity. As she carried her very first Shawnigan meal to a table at lunchtime, one new student summed up what the day meant when she said to her parents: "I'm here, I'm here! I'm so excited and can't wait to meet all my new community over the next few days." Welcome to each and every one of you.
2010 Prefect Leadership
Eighteen School Prefects arrived at School last week to take part in a three day Leadership Retreat. Led by Mrs. Kingstone, the retreat emphasized the important role this group will play in making 2010-2011 a successful year. Participants explored their individual gifts and talents to illuminate elements of character beneficial to group dynamics and to fulfilling their responsibilities as Shawnigan ambassadors. On day two, the students hiked up Mt. Tzouhalem and also picked blackberries for a blackberry crisp contest. A yoga session introduced them the to the art of breathing (even when faced with uncomfortable positions). The Prefects played host to a group of African drummers who taught them the art of drumming and dancing in the spirit of positive energy making and expressing enthusiasm. Before beginning the all important planning of the opening days, the Prefects met with Mr. Robertson who explored with the group the essential qualities of excellent leaders. Certainly this year's group is poised to bring together a superb school year.
– Thanks to Ethan C. for the photo.